New quarterback D. Bryant to lead offense for New Orleans VooDoo

The New Orleans VooDoo enters tonight’s game against the Arizona Rattlers with a new look at quarterback, but it still has to limit the mistakes that have plagued it all season.

Michael DeMocker/The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans VooDoo quarterback D. Bryant said Arizona usually plays man coverage and that likely will open up a few big passing plays, especially for receiver PJ Berry, above.

D. Bryant, who joined the team two weeks ago, will start in place of Danny Wimprine, and like Wimprine before the season started, Bryant hasn’t played in arena football since 2008. Bryant would have been with the VooDoo during training camp, but he opted to remain in school during the spring while completing his master’s degree.

“It’s going to be fun to get back out there and throw the ball around, do my part, and get us a W,” Bryant said.

Bryant has five years of arena football experience, most recently with the Kansas City Brigade in 2008. In 2007, while playing in af2, he set the record for passing yards in a season with 4,680.

“D throws with a little more zip, a tighter ball,” Coach Derek Stingley said. “When he throws, it’s a tight spiral and very catchable.”

Bryant and the VooDoo will have to be near perfect tonight. Arizona comes in as one of the better teams in the league with a 7-2 record. Only Jacksonville has a better record at 8-1, but that one loss was to Arizona.

“They’re playing good football right now, I’ll give them that,” Stingley said. “At the same time, they have to play good football Friday night as well.”

If the VooDoo is going to catch the Rattlers on the down side, this is the week to do it. After starting the season with six straight victories, Arizona has lost two of its past three games, albeit by one point in each time.

“Coach (Kevin) Guy coached a majority of those guys last year, so they have a good nucleus and they have that going for them,” Stingley said. “But we have a confident group, they feel like they can compete.”

Arizona quarterback Nick Davila is probably the most mistake-free quarterback in the league. He has thrown 53 touchdown passes and six interceptions, and he averages 293 yards per game.

Stingley said perhaps the biggest concern is Arizona’s defense, which forces opponents into mistakes and allows the offense to capitalize on them. Arizona has 20 interceptions, which is tied for the league lead with Orlando, and has a plus-13 turnover margin.

Bryant said he is well aware of the fact that there is no room for error tonight. He went on to talk about how Arizona usually plays man coverage and that likely will open up a few big passing plays, especially for receiver PJ Berry.

“D throws it to the back pylon, puts some air under it for us to run and catch it, and as a receiver you like that,” Berry said. “You don’t have to worry about where it’s going to be, if it’s going to get there, it’s your job to get to the back pylon because it will be there.”

Stingley will be patient tonight as his new starting quarterback is thrown into the fire against one of the league’s toughest defenses. Arizona is allowing 245 yards per game through the air, which is third best in the league.

“D’s been around the game long enough to understand what’s in front of him,” Stingley said. “We’re not asking him to come in here and be perfect, this is his first game back since the ’08 season, but he’s been through so many different battles in this game. It’s like riding a bike for him.”